The 28-year-old was a free agent having rejected the transfer of his contract to the new Rangers, following the Glasgow club’s takeover.

The 6ft 1ins Edinburgh-born defender, who has mostly played at right-back, has signed a four-year deal with the Canaries, subject to international clearance.

Whittaker, who has picked up 15 Scotland caps, enjoyed a successful five years at Ibrox following a £2m move from Hibernian, winning Scottish Premier League titles, Scottish Cups and three Scottish League Cups.

Canaries manager Hughton said: “In Steven we have a player who is very versatile - he can play anywhere across the back four and anywhere across midfield, so there’s plenty of versatility there.

“It’s probably a good time for him. Sometimes it is time to move on to a different club and go there with a lot of enthusiasm and he has international experience too.

“He has of course been used to playing at a very high level when he was at Rangers and in a lot of big games with a passionate crowd behind him.

“So the stage of the Premier League is certainly one that won’t faze him with his experience.”

Whittaker, who also appeared in Rangers’ 2008 UEFA Cup final defeat by Zenit St Petersburg, said: “All of my experience to date has been in Scotland so I am really looking forward to the challenge of playing in the Premier League, I’m very excited about it.

“When I spoke to Chris Hughton I was very impressed with his plans to progress Norwich City and everyone I’ve spoken to in the game has had nothing but praise for the club and the city of Norwich.

“I know Simon Lappin from a few years back and of course I know Russell Martin from Scotland and I am looking forward to meeting up with the squad and the staff.”

The average Old Firm fan commenting on message boards, etc. tends to be somewhat irrational, to put it mildly. While he still played for them Whittaker was generally considered one of their most consistent players, as was Hutton who before his injury problems in England showed excellent form to earn his big money move. I see Whittaker being a solid signing who will act as a squad player of good quality and temperament, rather than as someone who'll be an automatic first choice. As a free transfer definitely a bargain.

Brilliant signing. Now to get Naismith too - to replace Holt; and perhaps Rob Flecks' NEPHEW (not son) as the creative lynch pin. I'd also like to see Lansbury as a goal scoring midfield player. I expect far more movement once CH has seen the squad in action up close and personal. DVD's can only show you so much.

Why is it that comments from Ged and billytheolympicbookie never seem to get ethered?? Personally, I'm as pleased with the new signing as I am with the choice of manager.
So who would have been your choice of manager then Ged - Roy Keane?? I hear he's been down the job centre recently!!

Guys you really should ignore the trolls. The more you respond to their inane comments the more you fan their fires. Let's stick to the exciting times ahead for the club. We've already made a very good signing in Whittaker and I'm sure there are more on the way. Whilst many contributors on this site have castigated Hughton for being on holiday, it seems that he has also been quietly working with the club to get the players he wants. Whether Holt stays is now up to him. He started all this messing around so he has to finish it. If he goes the club will move on. Its as simple as that!! OTBC

Is Whittaker better than Naughton? No he isn't!! This is a massive step backwards for the club. We were told that the club has the biggest transfer budget ever, and yet we are signing unemployed defenders that have only ever played in a league that is basically semi professional. We should have made an effort to to sign Naughton, not settle for 3rd or 4th choice like we did with our manager. I can only assume that we are preparing for life back in The Championship already. The clubs a joke, but Ged is still a legend. Ged x.

As we seem to be publicly flirting with our new best friends Celtic at the moment, I doubt that we will get much love from the 'Gers and getting in the middle of the old firm derby is a bit more risky than mixing it up with our country cousins at the old farm derby! Unfortunately the financial demise of Rangers is part of the sickness in British football and the offer to the players was not very attractive, especially to those at their career peaks.

MR ED Negative people often gravitate toward others who react strongly–people who easily get outraged, or offended. I suspect this gives them a little light in the darkness of their inner world–a sense that they’re not floating alone in their own anger or sadness. If you were an 1p5wich supporter, you'd be in a pretty dark place right now, especially as your main rivals are enjoying a golden era.

Swiss, would have thought that is an employer ceases to exist then contracts are nullified as the organisation by ceasing to exist has breached the contract. But then this is football and seems like different rules apply - work permits being another example... Good signing - first step - sure to be more going on that we're not aware of. As for Holty, it's money against feeling he's going to miss out on something at NCFC - ball is in his court...

I watched his goal against Sporting Lisbon on Youtube. Incredible goal for a defender to score!! Apparently he played as a striker before he re-invented himself as a defender when he turned pro. If that's true then his versatility could be a really useful asset indeed!

Good to see things starting to happen. I can't say that I was aware of him before, though his video clips look good but we need to know what the whole package is. I can understand why Ranger's fans don't like that he didn't transfer his contract to the new club but at his stage in his career I can understand why he would want to take a shot at the Premier League. I think that it is a good decision for GH to cancel his twitter account.

Rangers fans would bleat no matter what happened! Just look at the situation at the moment, they are up in arms that the football authorities haven't completely bent the rules to let them stay in the SPL, a place they are sure is their natural right no matter how much the club was avoiding legal tax payments. I therefore wouldn't put much store in what any Rangers fan says about football at the moment.

At the risk of becoming incredibly unpopular on here I think Holt should go. Even if we do give him the contract extension I think too much has happened now and he won't be the same player that we have been used to. Yes, he got 15 goals last season but I do not think in any way he will do the same this time round. I agree, if we do sell him then it needs to be at the right price, but I just cannot see the point of keeping someone who has been proven to be fickle. I agree he probably wants more money, but he is forgetting that your abilities decline with age. If Holt stays then expect to see less goals from him but more from the others on the field as CH brings in a greater team spirit.

Joe Jordan and Kevin Bond have left WHL following 'Arry. I don't expect anything to happen regarding Kyle Naughton and any club until Spurs are settled with their new management team. It also appears that there is now a dispute between Rangers, newcoRangers, the Scottish PFA and FIFA as to whether Rangers player's contracts were nullified or not. Expect more fun on this.

As expected there have been a lot of Celtic fans declaring we have got ourselves a donkey, and Rangers fans declaring him "the worst right-back to ever wear a Rangers shirt... if you thought Alan Hutton was bad then wait until you see Whittaker. Glad he has gone, it has saved us £20k a week" ... Needless to say I wasn't exactly bowled over by this signing but then again a) he was free and b) we NEED defenders so I am glad this issue is being addressed! I think people are a bit too keen to jump on CH's back. Yes, we've lost Lambert, get over it! The truth is despite all the hard work he did he ended up ditching us for the next 'big' thing without so much as a warning. Instead we have a new manager who is keen to crack on and steady the ship. A lauded manager from right across the board who specialises in his man management and creating a true team spirit that is often missing with a lot of teams. I don't think I have ever seen a manager with so many endorsements from others in the sport! I think some Norwich fans need to wake up and realise that Pep Guardiola and Mourinho aren't going to be handing in their CV's here any time soon!

Rangers fans are declaring Whittaker as 'the worse right-back since Alan Hutton' and 'a great way for them to save £25k a week'. Personally I think those who are gunning for CH's blood need to wake up, we are in no way able to get the big names at the moment and they need to get over the fact that Lambert left us. He did great but he ditched us at the first opportunity, so welcome CH - a man who has been endorsed by more people than I have ever seen before! Give the guy a break and quit with the complaining..

Guys you should ignore the trolls. You only encourage them to contribute more tripe when you respond to what they are saying! Let's stick to what is really happening here; the beginning of an exciting new era for the club. We've made our first good signing, I'm sure more are on the way. As as for Holt deleting his Twitter account because he's on the way to West Ham; believe that and you believe all the other garbage being posted. We will know soon enough if he is staying or going!!! OTBC

Canarygirl - really well said. Yes, despite what some fans have been saying about CH being on holiday, he has obviously been on a 'working holiday' and I expect we'll see more signings in the next couple of weeks. Should also get a resolution to the 'Holt' problem soon I feel.

As a Rangers and Norwich fan I have mixed feelings - Steven is a great player and will do well at Norwich but the manner in which he denied Rangers the opportunity to make a small fee on him was reprehensible, so good luck Steven and thanks for the good years, but we will not forget your treachery!!

Hmmm. Just been reading an article on the BBC website about the legal consequences of the takeover and the right for Ranges players to cancel their contracts. Could well see this being dragged thru the courts, compensation etal. Having been TUPE'd myself (no comments please, my grey hair is all mine!), things dont always turn out as you first envisage.

Oh Ged you are just boring now, I'm surprised you've kept up this act for so long, don't you have a life?
Anyway, it's a good signing and he looks like a decent defender who is capable of getting a few goals. For free as well, that's good business, more money that can be spent on other players. Good Work CH.

This sounds like a very good aquistion to me. Steven Whittaker comes with a good degree of experience, pedigree and should be a great asset next season. Check out his solo goal against Sporting Lisbon ! Now please get some good news on Grant Holt.

Rangers fans are declaring Whittaker as 'the worse right-back since Alan Hutton' and 'a great way for them to save £25k a week'. Sour grapes perhaps? Personally I think those who are gunning for CH's blood need to wake up, we are in no way able to get the big names at the moment and they need to get over the fact that Lambert left us. He did great but he ditched us at the first opportunity, so welcome CH - a man who has been endorsed by more people than I have ever seen before! Give the guy a break and quit with the complaining..

Sounds a good addition to the squad; someone who is strong and versatile. And it was all kept very quiet. So we can expect more surprises before the season begins. We have secured a top class manager to take us forward and he will know where to find the best players for the club. Future is looking great!! OTBC

Do any Employment lawyers read these comments? At what point, when a company goes into liquidation, do employees' contracts become non existent? To what extent are footballers employees or merely assets, and therefore are more akin to 'slaves'? To what extent could it be argued - legally - that buying and selling employees is against Employment law? Rangers as an entity has died. The Rangers (newco) is a different company, and CG can bleat all he likes about SW not being allowed to move on, but the 'club' he bought had gone out of existence.

Great to see Ged is back, it's been boring with only rumours and ex-players comments to report for a whole month ! To Billy I'd say City for relegation and your boys in blue will win the Champoinship next season, right ? Narr, not really, only joking, but great to have you guys back - it has been getting dull on here lately !

I like the way he has brought a player in without all the speculation you see and hear at other clubs, another sign that CH is going about things in professional manner. Maybe Holt has had to delete twitter to get extension as CH only wants professionals about the club. OTBC

We should not critise the trolls here - feel sorry for them a bit, yes - but it's obvious that through their irony they are actually acknowledging the fantastic success our club presently enjoys. Lets hope that their delighful irony continues, it is a small price to pay for supporting a fantastic and successful Premiership team in the best league in the world ! OTBC never mind the irony NMTI !!